Warning over late trains

Network Rail is still failing to sort out the punctuality of long-distance trains, regulators say.

It saved £775 million over the three years ending in March and was on target to deliver required efficiencies by 2014, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said. But it was failing to deliver required levels of train punctuality.

ORR chief executive Richard Price said there were “serious problems” and concerns about “the sustainability of [Network Rail] management of parts of the railway infrastructure, such as bridges, tunnels and major structures”.